The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • Page E5

SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2013 THE NEWS LEADER E5 CELEBRATIONS First wedded to urban farming, now couple ready to get married Milestones About this service: Milestones are written and placed by couples, family and friends in celebration of an engagement, wedding or anniversary. Basic versions, with a photo, run for free. Several other options are available. For rates and deadlines, contact Classified Advertising at (540) CLUB NEWS 4-H club visits state capitol AUGUSTA COUNTY The Augusta County 4-H Honor Club helped conduct the Augusta Presentation and Public Speaking contest in February. Some members participated by giving presentations.

Some members also attended 4-H Day on Feb. 12 at the Capitol in Richmond. During the February meeting, Renae Leaton was the guest speaker. She gave information on proper etiquette techniques. Members practiced those techniques at the Joshua Wilton House.

The honor club helped with the Parks and Recreation's Eggstravaganza by providing a petting zoo. Mattie Marsh and Will Ratliff plan to attend 4-H Congress. Honor club members Mattie Marsh, Isabelle Marsh, Mark Persinger, Kristine Miller, Kerri Houser, Harrison Powel and Andrew Vinson helped 4-H clubs with the Tractor Supply promotion in May. At the April meeting, club members discussed a fun activity that they plan to do this summer. busy planting seeds and seedlings in neat rows and tending to old apple trees that dot the property.

The upcoming wedding marks a milestone of sorts in the evolution of agriculture in the city. Ash and Stevens are part of a circle of friends who call themselves the Farmer Pirates, and they share a passion for growing food and self-sustainability. The Farmer Pirates are now farming about 12 acres of formerly vacant lots across the East Side. Many have bought houses next to or near their farms and are fixing them up and living there. Some of the farms are far enough along that they sell their produce at farm stands and through subscriptions where people pay upfront for weekly baskets of what's in season.

The group has also embarked on an ambitious project on Ash and Stevens' land: a large-scale composting operation. While people have been growing vegetables in their city and suburban gardens for generations, it was the Massachusetts Avenue Project that introduced the idea a decade ago of growing food on vacant lots in Buffalo. Diane Picard, executive director of MAP, is excited to see interest in urban farming grow. "I was just at a meeting this morning where we were talking about how much potential there is in the city to do urban growing." By Maki Becker Buffalo News BUFFALO, N.Y. Under a giant cottonwood tree on an unexpectedly wide swath of undeveloped land on Buffalo's East Side, two pioneers in the city's small but growing urban farming movement will get married this weekend.

The bride, Alex Stevens, and groom, Dan Ash, have started their own farm there where Gittere Street deadends near railroad tracks. The former vacant lot had long been a dumping ground for garbage, and it has been the scene of far too many drug deals, car fires and other crimes. With summer drawing closer, the couple has been Price Robichaux BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS She weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces. She is the sister of Haley Summers, 13, and Adrianna Hogsett, 11. Maternal grandparents are Denise and Eddie Stone.

Paternal grandparents are Darlene and Larry Hiner. brother of Peyton, 4. Maternal grandparents are Orvin and Dawn Stinnett of Stuarts Draft. Paternal grandparents are Vic and Judy Fisher of Wheeling, and Ron and Tammy Veirs of Franklin, Tenn. Adalynn Grace Hiner MOUNT SIDNEY Amanda Thompson and (B.J.) Billy Hiner announce the birth of a daughter, Adalynn Grace Hiner, born June 1 at Augusta Health.

Health. He weighed 9 pounds, 4 ounces. Maternal grandparents are William and Cheryl Ryman. Paternal gran-parents are Gary and Nancy Meeks. Landon Keith Fisher FARMVILLE Matt and Amanda Fisher announce the birth of a son, Landon Keith Fisher, born March 21 at Centra Southside Community Hospital.

He weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 19 inches. He is the HINTONiJ MORTGAGE Charlie Lint WAYNESBORO Chris and Beth Lint announce the birth of a son, Charlie Lint, born May 27 at Augusta Health. He weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces. He is the brother of Natalie Grace, 3. Maternal grandparents are Armistead B.

Traynham and LaVerne H. Traynham. Paternal grandparents are Paul Lint and John and Anita Forster. Caleb Anthony Meeks FORT DEFIANCE Jonathan and Hope Meeks announce the birth of a son, Caleb Anthony Meeks, born May 18 at Augusta WAYNESBORO Wayne and Terry Price announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer L. Price to Eric R.

Robichaux, son of Neil and Judy Robichaux of Staunton. The bride-to-be is a 2009 graduate of Waynesboro High School and attended Blue Ridge Community College. She is an administrative assistant at Augusta Health Cardiology. The groom-to-be is a 2008 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School and graduated from Blue Ridge Community College.

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